Defending champions South Africa will face arch-rivals New Zealand for the second time in the build-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
The Springboks and All Blacks are set to clash in the Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship on July 15 in New Zealand.
They will meet again at Twickenham in London on August 25 in the final warm-up for both countries before the World Cup kicks off in France on September 8.
Quarter finals
The groups will face each other in the World Cup quarter-finals if one wins their pool and the other finishes second.
South Africa and New Zealand share the record for World Cup titles with three titles, while Australia have won twice and England once.
Last year, the rivalry that began in 1921 continued with two dramatic Tests. South Africa hosted both and won 26-10 in Mbombela before a late collapse resulted in a 35-23 loss in Johannesburg.
Although the South African Rugby Union has not yet released the 2023 schedule, AFP understand that the Springboks will play six Tests before arriving in France.
They begin their Rugby Championship campaign – reduced from two rounds to one due to the World Cup – at home to Australia on July 8.
After taking on New Zealand, South Africa will host Argentina in the final round of the Championship on July 29.
On August 5, they will face the Pumas again, this time in Buenos Aires, before World Cup warm-ups against Wales in Cardiff on August 19 and New Zealand six days later.
Mix 2022
Seeking to emulate New Zealand and become the second country to win consecutive World Cup tournaments, South Africa have had a mixed season in 2022, winning eight Tests and losing five.
Highlights include Mbombela’s win over New Zealand, ending a long losing streak in Australia with a convincing win in Sydney, and England’s last-gasp win in London.
But an inconsistent team fell at home to Wales for the first time and they were flattered to lose by only eight points against Australia in Adelaide after a woeful performance.
On the European tour last November, the Springboks narrowly lost to Ireland and France, the two favorites to be crowned world champions this year.
South Africa are in Pool B at the World Cup with Ireland, currently the top-ranked team, Scotland, Tonga and Romania, and the first and second sides progress to the knockout stages.